Peace linguistics and traditional ways of conflict resolution in Terver Udu’s Ikyav Saan Aga Saan and Sam Patrick Terngu’s Adezungwen

Abstract

Conflicts occur between people, institutions, tribes and nations and cold be resolved when language and dialogue are effectively used. Peace linguistics and traditional ways of conflict resolutions in Terver T. Udu’s Ikyav Saan Aga Saan and Sam Patrick Terngu’s Adezungwen examines the causes of conflicts, explores the language of hate speech and states traditional ways of resolving conflicts in the select texts. This study adopts Coleman’s (2006) Human Relations Paradigm (HRP) for conflict resolution. The model emphasises the prominent roles that human social interactions play in resolving conflicts. The model uses mediation, integrative negotiation and constructive controversy as parameters for conflict resolution. Methodologically, this study used purposive sampling technique. The choice of the two select texts was deliberate hence the texts are laced with conflicts and how they were amicably resolved using traditional methods. The study used primary and documentary sources. The primary sources are Udu’s Ikyav Saan Aga Saan and Terngu’s Adezungwen while the documentary sources are journal articles, theses, glossary and textbooks. As data analysis, the select texts were read, data relating to causes, language of hate speech and resolution of conflicts were grouped and translated into English and then analysed. It was revealed that domestic conflicts could be resolved using human relation mechanism and nonviolent communication. This study has presented Tiv culture where the voices of the elders are respected and their decisions were unanimously accepted. Finally, peace repairs broken relationships and enhances progress. Traditional rulers should apply the solutions proffered by Terver Udu and Sam Paddy Terngu in their fictional texts to resolve conflicts in their domains.